In addition to my paleontological work, I use 3D for historical recreations of engineering and architecture. In recent years I built models of palaces, temples, vehicles and some interesting machines. Occasionally, for save time, I buy commercial meshes, but it is very difficult to find (at a reasonable price) the exact required model. Sometimes it is possible to get surface wireframes, and I ony need to build the interior details, but usually I made all work from zero. Fortunately the network is an excellent tool for search blueprints and documentation.

I open this thread to show some of my works in the field of historical recreation, with some technical explanations, not so much about the modeling as about the final art. I think it may be useful to share our work techniques, so if any user wants to contribute with their own harvest, it is welcome

This Egyptian thomb is a good example of my workflow. I model the basic thomb structure (for references I use Thutmoses Thomb) and texture the walls with real egyptian paints. Also I buil some detail pieces, as the golden shrines, but most of objexts are commercial meshes (for example, I buy the tut sarcophagus http://www.turbosquid.com/FullPrevie....cfm/ID/796480 )

I made three HR renders of thomb scene with different oppacity and illumination sets, and also a separate render for shrine/sarcophagus image. FInally, I make a layered composition in photoshop

Also I use the scene file for make a little motion view https://youtu.be/hnlRZ2G4rVw . All work needs 10 days, and the motion (very simple, with a little radiosity adjust) needs aprox. 13 hours

Main problems for this image were to texture the walls, to find a good camera perspective for show all thomb details and, in layout file, to load all objects in a logic and aesthetic composition

One of my last works: the Stephenson Rocket of 1829. For save time, I buy a poser model www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/ro… . I rebuild the structure (the only piece I use whitout changes is the back carriage) because I need all parts are motion working and also I want full detailed inside views (the advantage to use a commercial mesh is to load as template)

I also used a DAZ Michael4 as Stoker for give a good size reference.The coke in back carriage is a simple wireframe with a procedural normal map. For motion details as water I use also procedurals, and particles for the chimney steam.

As you can see in the screen view, for Piston/wheel motion I only need a bone por made a simple IK chain

The San Jose is the greatest myth of treasure hunting. For this illustration, I rebuild an old Golden Hind model, changing its proportions and building new elements to transform it into a much larger Spanish galleon. As usual, modeling and rendering in Lightwave, making three diferent renders for make a final art multilayered image in photoshop. I draw historical planes in Illustrator. Infographics was completed with my own texts.

Texts of last San José Battle (sorry for the traduction, english is not my native):

The general Fernández of Santillan sighted Cartagena shortly after noon on June 8. And also sighted the sails to confirmed their worst nightmares: Despite all their precautions, the british ships had discovered his departure. Who had betrayed them? Any black Maroon who had stowed the load? perhaps an accommodated dealer, apparently flawless? Whatever it is, it only remaining dressing his fleet tothe fight. The wind was weak, but was enough to load his ships in battle order before the enemy tart the assault. Their boats were 170 guns: it will be a hard prey for pirates. The Four ships of the Commodore Wager don't waste time with the merchant convoy, they knew

the loot was on the great scort Galleons, and the big prize was in the capital ship, San Jose.

The Kingston hung on the San Joaquin, but this achieved break away and keep walking. The San Jose would not have as much luck: the Expedition achieved get up to 60 meters of his outboard, sweeping the deck with shrapnel and almost dismasting it. The Spaniards retributed shot by shot, but the boarding assault was imminent. Santillan order a tack and then, at 7 of the late, before the astonished corsairs eyes, the Galleon blown off, sinking in minutes with all his treasures and seamen.

Undercover of night, the San Joaquin deceive his pursuers and, at dawn day 9, enter to Cartagena port. Finally, Wager only apprehend the third Galleon, the Santa Cruz, with only a handful of coins on board to the despair of his captors. Thus ended the battle
and began the legend of the San Jose, the sunken treasures Holy Grail

The A-4/V2. I use a exterior wireframe of this rocket and add the interior details, and the launcher. I use also the trailer of a rheinbote model (is the same vehicle) and a DAZ M4 with the tannenbaum german grenadier uniform

If I have some free time during this year, I want to make a more detailed mesh, but for this scene, I think I made a good work. But I made a little mistake: in the text, I forget to write the tech details (size, weight, range, velocity...)

A real classic, the enigma machine. Fortunatelly I find a Low resolution external wireframe and I can use for build my own version, because the blueprints are a real nightmare. For a good look, I render the mesh with a HDRI environment. Main work was to adjust the wheels structure

The Tzar tank, one of strangest projects of preWar ingeneering, pure steampunk (or, maybe, diesel punk). I use the wheels and engines of a commercial model https://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/tsar-tank/101033/ , build a new body with full detailed interior and rigging parts, and re-texture all parts.

Most of commercial models are good exterior meshes, the problem is to adjust interior parts. Poser models have a advantage, the geometries are .obj wireframes, with square polygons (a 3ds usually is a triangular nightmare) and is easy to rebuild the pieces. Of course, prior of buy a mesh you need to calculate the prize/worktime scale. I use as reference 15€ for one modeling work hour. The cybertenko mesh saves me 10 work hours for only 6 €, thus, it was a good investmen.

The Alcazar of Madrid was the old fortress/palace of spanish kings. Originally it was built in 9th, and enlarged over the centuries until the great fire of 1734. Today, the official royal Palace is the Palace of Oriente (East Palace), located in old Alcazar location.

It was a very hard work, I need to find a lot of old blueprints, engravings and recreations for build my own version. The mesh have 1464000 polygons in 8 layers and I need a full work week.

You can see the main facade, in herrerian style, the medieval south side, with four big towers, and the Queen and King Courtyards

The A-4/V2. I use a exterior wireframe of this rocket and add the interior details, and the launcher. I use also the trailer of a rheinbote model (is the same vehicle) and a DAZ M4 with the tannenbaum german grenadier uniform

If I have some free time during this year, I want to make a more detailed mesh, but for this scene, I think I made a good work. But I made a little mistake: in the text, I forget to write the tech details (size, weight, range, velocity...)

A real classic, the enigma machine. Fortunatelly I find a Low resolution external wireframe and I can use for build my own version, because the blueprints are a real nightmare. For a good look, I render the mesh with a HDRI environment. Main work was to adjust the wheels structure

I love the Enigma render Japa! I do technical animation as part of my job and enjoy instructive renders like this. This inspires me to want to research and render my own! While looking at reference material, I stumbled across this: http://www.thecrowdfundnetwork.com/o...es-accessible/

After downloading the blueprints, I am even more inspired since they are thorough, providing the most accurate reference material!

You never know where a 3D project will take you!

Well done!

CC

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Atlantis was a very complex work. I build the terrain, temples, most of buildings, walls ... and also use commercial and free models for complete the scene. Fortunatelly isn't for motion, only a single image, because I need aprox 16 millions of polygons. It was published in Muy Historia magazine

Another architectural nightmare, the Cnosos palace. Main problem was to work only with archaelogical schemes and a too general idea of possible style, because Evans views are only hypothetical. Also, this is one of more complex architecture models that I have built, because isn't a big building but an accumulation of little blocks.